Praia Nova Village in Mozambique following Cyclone Idai
Mozambique, Malawi's southern neighbor, is bracing for the impact of Cyclone Freddy, a powerful storm that is predicted to make landfall on Friday, February 24th. The country is expected to experience strong winds and heavy rains that could lead to severe flooding in Inhambane, Sofala, and Zambezia provinces in the south and central parts of the country, affecting over 600,000 people.
The cyclone comes at a time when rivers in the region are already swollen due to heavy rains, raising concerns about the potential for more devastating floods. The capital city of Maputo is also expected to be hit by heavy rains.
Cyclone Freddy was first spotted on February 6th off the Australian coast and has since traversed the entire Southern Indian Ocean. It made landfall in Madagascar on February 21st and is projected to re-strengthen as it crosses the Mozambique channel.
Christine Beasley, the Country Director of CARE International, expressed concern about the impact of the cyclone and said that emergency teams and trucks carrying emergency supplies had been dispatched to Inhambane province, which is projected to be hit the hardest. CARE is working with local and international partners to support affected communities.
The severity of cyclones and tropical storms in Southern Africa has been increasing over the years due to climate change. In 2022, Mozambique experienced two tropical storms and one tropical cyclone, with Cyclone Gombe affecting over 700,000 people and causing 63 deaths. It destroyed over 91,000 hectares of farmland and more than 69 health centers, according to the Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction.
As Cyclone Freddy approaches, CARE Mozambique is prepositioning relief supplies, including tarpaulins for temporary shelter, soap, solar lanterns, and chlorine for water treatment, to be distributed to the affected communities. After the cyclone dissipates, CARE, along with the government and partners, will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the situation to identify what additional assistance is required.
The Mozambican government has also urged communities in the affected areas to take precautionary measures, such as relocating to higher ground and avoiding crossing flooded rivers. The government has also put in place contingency plans to ensure the timely delivery of aid and the evacuation of people in affected areas.
The impact of Cyclone Freddy is likely to exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation in Mozambique, where over 1.3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance due to a combination of climate-related disasters, conflict, and economic shocks. The country is still recovering from the effects of Cyclones Idai and Kenneth, which hit the country in 2019, causing widespread devastation and loss of life.
In addition to the immediate humanitarian impact of the cyclone, there are also concerns about the long-term impact on Mozambique's economy, which heavily relies on agriculture and fishing. Cyclone Freddy could result in extensive damage to crops and infrastructure, further worsening the country's food security and economic situation.
The Mozambican government and humanitarian agencies are calling for support from the international community to assist in responding to the crisis. The timely delivery of aid and assistance will be critical in ensuring that affected communities can quickly recover and rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the cyclone